Cast: Neal McDonough, Mykelti Williamson, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Jones, Graham Harvey, Irene Bedard,

Written And Directed By:Jon Avent

Release Year: 2025

)No Audio Description Provided With Film*

What is it?: An aging cowboy McDonaugh) has to rally so he can compete in a rodeo to win a cash prize and save his ailing grandson’s life.

What Works: Not my first rodeo of the year, after trying to sit through Wyatt Russell’s Broke without audio description, so I did appreciate that The Last Rodeo had fundamentally way more dialogue. McDonough does a lot more talking about his feelings, which makes it a little more interesting to try and follow. I’m just a little impressed that Neal McDonough managed to get a leading role this late in his career, not just a large role, but the actual top billing. He typically plays so many character types, these smarmy businessmen who dabble in dastardly deeds, that to see him be the hero is a nice change of pace. The Last Rodeo doesn’t have a lot of meat on its bones, so it isn’t quite like watching Dale Dickey get A love Song, or Andrea Risborogh in To Leslie, but it is very much the kind of film that is safe, accessible, and plays broadly.

It feels faith based, only in the occasional prayer, or mention of God, but it really has no strong roots in the faith based world. It’s leaning more after the Taylor Sheridan crowd, just with a lot less violence, profanity, and sex. If Taylor Sheridan made a Hallmark movie, it would be this.

The supporting cast doesn’t disappoint either. I feel like it has been ages since I’ve seen Irene Bedard in a substantial role, and Christopher McDonald is also being asked to pull off a dramatic turn, when he’s far more known for comedy currently across Hacks and Happy Gilmore 2. It’s like a bunch of familiar faces got together for a Yellowstone-ish project to try and catch the attention of whoever casts for Sheridan’s multitude of projects. McDonough is already an alum of Sheridan’s having appeared on Tulsa King, but with the rest, the possibilities are open.

I wouldn’t say these types of films are necessarily my specific brand, but I also don’t have many things to say against it other than I didn’t have audio description. This film does have it, but it is a case of the indie distributor not being able to make sure the track follows the film after theatrical release.

What Doesn’t Work: Rodeo’s are pretty visual things, so there is this rather large element that I should have context for, but don’t. I wasn’t even really sure how the film ended, simply because I lacked context. But, the film is a lot of sitting around a talking, which is pretty easy to follow, and I’d imagine was a lot cheaper to shoot.

Why You Might Like it: You’re a fan of Westerns and the Taylor Sheridan programming, but secretly wish there was something that was like Yellowstone, but family friendly. Not made for kids, but also not a hard R.

Why You Might Not Like It: it certainly isn’t genre defining, and if you can’t catch it with audio description I’d understand. it is a perfectly fine time waster, but not the kind of film to go out of your way for.

Final Thoughts: The Last Rodeo is about a dangerous sport, with a lead who has to find the courage and fortitude to once again reign supreme, but plays it safe, removing the thrills, nd substituting them for meditations on aging and friendship.

Fresh: Final grade:6.3/10